A highlight of Winter Homecoming Week on the Riverbank High campus was culminated at halftime of Friday night’s varsity boys basketball game with the crowning of a king and a queen.

Before a packed house at Ray Fauria Memorial Gymnasium the Bruins hosted Hughson in a Trans-Valley League trio of contests, with freshman, JV and varsity action all on the schedule. During the mid-game break of the varsity contest, the RHS Leadership Club introduced the five Homecoming King candidates and five potential Homecoming Queens.

The planned order of introduction got a little off track, however, with one of the Queen candidates missing. Turns out nominee Aliza Teixeira was unable to attend the festivities at the start of the ceremony, as she was involved with the varsity girls basketball game at Hughson. A rare scheduling of boys and girls games on the same night caused the candidate to be late for the Homecoming halftime event.

The Riverbank student emceeing the introductions was initially at a loss as to how to continue after everyone else was introduced, but then happened to notice Teixeira coming through the gym lobby, trying to get in onto the court. The final candidate then did get her formal announcement, after all.

Lucky thing Teixeira left the Hughson game early in order to participate in the Homecoming festivities, since it was she who was voted in and crowned as the RHS Winter Homecoming Queen.

The only down side, however, was that she didn’t get a chance to change into a formal dress like the other candidates had on for the evening. Teixeira was dressed in her basketball uniform with her warm up jersey on over the top. A minor detail, to be sure, and one that didn’t necessarily clash with her crown.

Damien Lopez was crowned as the winning Winter Homecoming King candidate.